Inspired by the recent student protests and angry about proposed local cuts people in Lewisham stormed the Town Hall where a vote on the cuts was taking place after the number of people allowed into the meeting was cut.

Around 100 people tried to force their way into the building. Extra riot police were sent to the town hall along with police horses and dogs to disperse the protest using force.

The lobby at the town hall which drew several hundred people was also supported by students from Goldsmiths College.

Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance said "a peaceful lobby was denied democratic rights as we attempted to enter Lewisham town hall to make our voices against the cuts heard. Police brutally attacked protesters with batons, shields. There were so many cops that the south circular outside the town hall was closed due to the number of police cars and vans."

VIDEOS:

http://london.indymedia.org/articles/6162

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRgKNL6UzLk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLJjKGd7yCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2GKwvXjr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmY1-FJLqc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urakyh6vTOc

BLOGS + PRESS:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/29/lewisham-council-protest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11870742
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23216
http://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2010/11/lewisham-town-hall-stormed.html
http://transpont.blogspot.com/2010/11/lewisham-demo-tonight-cuts-catford-and.html
http://greencroftonpark.blogspot.com/2010/11/angry-scenes-at-tonights-council.html
http://www.hangbitching.com/2010/11/lewisham-protests/


LINKS:

Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance
http://lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=151507044863124


BACKGROUND:

Call out: http://anticuts.org.uk/?p=966

The Mayor has presented the budget, but we can still stop the cuts

Town Hall (Catford), 6:30PM, Monday 29 Nov.

Come and tell the councillors to vote against the cuts, outside (and inside) the council meeting. No closures of libraries, Early Childhood centres, Open Doors advice services, no job losses, no privatisation!

We know many councillors do not want cuts, but feel pressured into voting for them. Our message to them is simple: Vote for what you believe in, how would you even consider any other action?

======================================

Letter to Labour Party Councillors:

Dear Labour Councillor

On 29th November you will be asked to vote for a budget, which will have devastating effects on the people of Lewisham you have been elected to represent.

The ConDem government has cut local government funding this year. But they plan more cuts next year and the year after that. If we give in now they will be back for more and more and more. This is an ideological attack on our welfare services. The poor are being made to pay for a financial crisis, which was caused by greed for profit.

The coalition government has a choice. These cuts are not inevitable. In fact the money to offset the deficit is readily available:

• There is £120 billion tax gap of avoided and uncollected tax
• The UK holds £850 billion in banking assets from the bailout – this is more than the national debt
• The UK government “owes” £200 billion of debt to the Bank of England – solely owned by the UK government.

Simply accepting these cuts without resistance is totally unacceptable. We are asking you to stand by your party principles and protect the people who elected you from these draconian cuts.

There are things you can cut without affecting jobs and services. For example:
• Cut top management pay
• Sack the consultants
• Pass a No Cuts budget

Help us to build the anti cuts movement in Lewisham, by mobilising the unions, tenants associations, and community activists with the central demand that the coalition government restores the money for local services.

• Don’t vote for the budget on the 29th.
• Don’t tell the people of Lewisham that there is no alternative.
• Join us at our next planning meeting to discuss how we can build the movement agains the cuts:
7th December Amersham Arms, New Cross Rd 7pm

In solidarity
Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance